Chennai, Mar 22: The first Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting, convened by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, saw participation from Chief Ministers, a Deputy Chief Minister, and representatives from multiple states. On Saturday, the committee unanimously adopted a resolution demanding a 25-year freeze on the delimitation process.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin presided over the meeting, which raised concerns over the lack of transparency in the upcoming delimitation exercise. The resolution emphasized that no consultation had been held with key stakeholders.
The JAC lauded Stalin’s initiative to protect the political and economic interests of states that have successfully controlled population growth. It stressed that any delimitation process undertaken by the Union Government must be transparent, allowing political parties, state governments, and other stakeholders to participate in discussions and contribute to the decision-making process.
Citing the intent behind the 42nd, 84th, and 87th Constitutional Amendments, the resolution highlighted that these measures were designed to protect and incentivize states that had effectively implemented population control policies. Since India has yet to achieve its national population stabilization goals, the JAC proposed extending the freeze on Parliamentary constituency allocations—currently based on the 1971 Census—for another 25 years.
The resolution further stated that states with declining population shares due to successful family planning efforts should not be penalized. It urged the Union Government to enact constitutional amendments to ensure fair representation for these states.
To counter any delimitation efforts that contradict these principles, the JAC formed a Core Committee of MPs from the participating states. This committee will coordinate parliamentary strategies and submit a Joint Representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ongoing Parliamentary session.
Additionally, political parties from the represented states will push for Legislative Assembly resolutions in their respective states and communicate them to the Centre. The JAC also plans to launch a public awareness campaign to educate citizens on the historical context of delimitation and its potential consequences.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, DMK MP Kanimozhi reiterated the committee’s concerns over the lack of transparency and stakeholder consultation in the delimitation process. She also read out the resolution, emphasizing the importance of a fair and open discussion before any changes are implemented.
The meeting marked a significant step in forming a united front against any delimitation move that could disadvantage states that have successfully controlled population growth.
